Two nurses at the La Salle County Nursing home were suspended in August after an abuse claim was investigated by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The 104-bed intermediate care facility in rural Ottawa was scheduled for Medicaid termination for not complying with several minor deficiencies on Nov. 30, but was resurveyed by IDPH in November and found to be back in compliance.

The abuse claim was investigated on Aug. 8 by the IDPH.

The names of those involved were not released to protect their privacy.

A female resident claimed two licensed nurses carried out a procedure against her will July 18.

Residents have a right to refuse treatment, according to IDPH.

The resident was to receive treatment to a pressure sore on her buttocks. The nurses told the resident they needed to measure the sore to see if it was improving.

She agreed to have her sore measured, but did not want the bandage applied, claiming she is allergic to the tape and the area around the pressure sore is painful when the bandage is removed, according to IDPH records.

The resident said she was mislead to believe they would only measure the area, but once they lifted her onto her side the area was measured and one nurse proceeded to hold her down while the other applied the bandage.

"(The resident) stated that she 'fought with everything I had' trying to roll onto my back trying to keep (the director of nursing) from putting the bandage on," according to IDPH surveys.

As a result, her left arm was cut by her watch when trying to get free, requiring four steri-strips to close it, the report said.

The 86-year-old claimed she was yelling and crying for them to stop, but they continued with the procedure.

The bandage was applied to her buttocks during the struggle.

During the interview, the woman choked up and began to cry, according to IDPH records. She told IDPH she cried all day and shortly after the incident.

"(The resident) stated that she was very hurt to think the nurses would treat a person like that. (The resident) stated that she does not trust these two nurses anymore."

The rehabilitation nurse said she did not feel the treatment they gave the resident was abuse.

"I didn't hold her down that hard," the nurse was quoted saying in the IDPH survey.

The nurse said she received the tear and bruise because she hit her and the other nurse.

The resident told IDPH she was aware that many people on staff label her as non-compliant.

In addition to the bandage on her buttocks, she refused to eat in the dining room and refused care until her daily morning game shows were over.

She said this was the second time she refused to have a bandage applied, according to IDPH surveys.

According to her minimum data set, which is a comprehensive assessment done on all new admissions or when there is a significant change in the resident's condition, the resident is independent, consistent and reasonable when making her own decisions.

Under behavior systems the document said she can be resistive to care four to six days a week.

She can be non-compliant in taking medications, turning and repositioning and personal care.

Later that day a social service director came into her room and when the resident explained what happened, the director told her she should allow the nurses to do their treatment.

The director felt the nurses did not abuse the woman, claiming the nurses were following the physician's orders, according to IDPH surveys.

According to the resident, the director further informed her that it might be better if she moved, that she may be happier somewhere else, according to IDPH surveys.

The resident called her granddaughter and told her she thought she was being kicked out and she wanted to go back to Streator.

She asked her granddaughter to take pictures of her injuries, but the director of nursing would not allow it, saying it was against the law, the resident told IDPH.

However, it is not against the law when voluntary. If the resident requested to have the picture taken, as was reportedly the case, then there should have not been any reason not to take it for her, said Kimberly Parker, communications manager for IDPH.

In the aftermath, discipline action forms were sent to the two nurses indicating their indefinite suspension. A warning was given to the social service director for failing to recognize a potential allegation of abuse.

Administrator Adrienne Erickson conducted a review, which covered the entire resident abuse prevention policy and procedure manual and a thorough review of the resident's rights.

Erickson would not comment on the investigation.

One nurse has returned to work. The other was offered to return to her position, but has yet to accept the offer, said Gary Small, chairman of the nursing home committee.

"I'm not sure what's going to happen," Small said in reference to the nurse's return.

The suspension was required by the IDPH, Small said. They were suspended on July 27, but Small was not certain on the length of the suspension.

"As far as I know, (the resident) didn't have a problem with the nurses returning."

The resident decided not to move, he said.

"I think it was a misunderstanding that was blown up by several different agents," Small said.

Small assured the nursing home was now 100 percent in compliance.